dragonfly

Yup, it definitely gets confusing to be sure.

I agree with the whole spending $2000 for sound on a $2000 machine. I think that I am leaning towards buying a little box (cant remember name) that plugs into usb and uses that as an input so that I can get two mic channels through it instead of my card. I also understand about buying a bass guitar - i use my sister's BC Rich Beast so it's free for me.

As for the extra plugins and fx, usually the software comes with all you need. I havent bought any card that came with software like that, so I cant comment on the quality at all, though cubase is great I hear. But I went out and bought my own software for about... hmmm... $300 or so, I cant really remember, and that's done just fine for me. Though, that was a little expensive, but it does more than i need it to even.

As far as number of tracks, I usually end up with about 14~16 running simultaneously (I think one of my songs is 18). I like to have all my drums programmed but each sound having its own track so that I can change that later if I want to, or simply take a single snare hit out at any point - whatever is easier for changing in the future if you dont like how it sounds, without reprogramming and re-recording.

This is what it usually looks like:

Guitars: 3-6 tracks

Bass: 1

Vocals: 3 or 4

Drums: 7 to 9

I'm really starting to lean towards the X-Fi Platinum to be honest.

Hey, dont use my name in vain!

Joshin'... where's the respect!?

I was looking at a 16 and 8 channel board and it comes with cubase, which means that some things are built for it specifically. I dont use cubase, i opted for adobe audition because I had used it a bunch before.

How many lines are you goign to need to record simultaneously? Some of that stuff you can go through usb, which is waht I was looking at, or you can get an 8 channel one that records on its own built in hdd, then move the files over to your pc. The problem with that is you have to do some tight recording and there's not as much room for splicing pieces ofmusic in.

Anonymo knows MUCH more than I do, but I've learned that as far as things like reverb go, the built in effects for the software are usually not bad. However, things like distortion (if you record black metal like me) REALLY SUCKS BAD, and I use my line6 distortion instead.

So I guess it also depends on what your objectives are. Like building a computer: dont build a $4000 system to check email with. How good do you actually want it to sound? Cause the best card in teh world cant really make up for bad pickups in your guitar and stuff like that. I feel like I'm using middle of the road stuff, and i'm pretty happy with the sound I get.

As for software for basslines/percussion, I just record the bass myself (if you can play guitar you can play bass well enough to record as backup lol) and use a boss dr770 for percussion. You can get samples online (but they wont be great) or buy them and use them to build your percussion with the software.

Oh yeah, one more thing: I highly recommend that if you can at all do it, record everythign clean and use plugins to add fx after. That way you dont record w/ guitar and reverb, decide there's too much rev and have to record again with a lower setting. Always try to record clean.

Yeah, I know waht you mean.

However, the thing i still like about the platinum is that it has ports for the midi cables (for when I use my dr770). Still not decided

Dang, maybe i'll have to buy both

Yeah, taht's what I thought, Cujo. Conclusion: not worth it at all.

Now I've got a decision to make.

what about setting it to 2 points wins map? This way maps like Dria and Dawn don't go on for what seems like forever at times. I realize this may make the smaller maps run through a little faster but I think overall it might work out. There are times where we lose a room when big maps drag on. Ok, just a thought.

Hey guys, i'm back finally! Looking forward to getting the school schedule down and some gaming going.

Ditto to Primus

Thanks guys, net has been down adn so has phone, so i coulndt get back on here

I'll check that linky out, thanks!

as for fatal1ty over platinum, i read that soemwhere, but i cant remember where. they said it frees up your ram by using xram or something like that.

anonymo, i want to hear some of your stuff some time!

I do want this thing to be able to do rec and gaming too, but i suppose a little more for recording. thanks for the info guys.

So I was wondering what you guys/gals would suggest for a new soundcard. I am currently using the onboard with my s939 Asus Premium, but that simply will not do. I do record music, so I need something a little bit better.

I had my eye on the X-Fi Platinum and Fatal1ty cards, but seeing as I'm getting plenty of frames as is in games, I am having a hard time telling myself to spend another $100 to go Fatal1ty. Is there a huge difference in other than fps for gaming?

Any and all suggestions welcome. Btw, it will be paired up with a Sony 755 watt reciever w/ 6.1 (though most likely 5.1). I have optical, and love the clarity with that even though i'm only using onboard.

-Dark

kruten, funny as always. what's the video card on that? onboard?

 

Integrated and at 800x600. Whoo!

That and still over 1000 hours at CS:S!!!!! That's bragging rights!

I'm using the Big Typhoon and I like it. I have it set pretty high and it's still quite quiet.

The loudest part of my pc is probably the 120mm fan intake on the front of my TT Armour, because it's pointing towards me since the back of the pc is pointing away. Either that or the little 90mm on the top.

Anyway, the Typhoon is holding my 4200+ (oc'd to 2.4) at 37 C, which could be easily improved if i fiddled aroudn with my case a bit. It's messy at the moment with cables etc

Speaking of OC'ing, is there a thread already started on how to, or links to how to?

I OC'd my 4200+ from 2.2 to 2.4 just to try it out and temps went up only about 3 degrees C. (From 32 to 35 or 36). Did notice a difference in load times with that though.

Cujo - LOVE the RAM!

I've got the 4200+ if that's relevant, and nary a single problem here. bah bah bah bah bah I'm lovin' it.

I just re-read your post. Disregard my last one. Ugh... long week

Ok, cool. Thanks for the info. I think I'll just be content then. I'll start os OCing in the fall when I go back to school and have time to do it. I havent even been near my new pc for about a month now . I'll just be thankful for what I have.

Besides, I still only have the crap ram in there. Once i get 2 gigs of ddr500 it'll help. Not taht I'm even complaining with what I've got, cause it runs all my games great

with the current crazy prise drops, the 4400+ with 2MB L2 cache is a steal. Jump on it and you will never regret it. Ocd or not

I have the 4200+ right now (and have had it for about 2 months). Is there big enough of a difference between this and the 4400+ that I should try to sell it and get the 4400? I was (kicking self in buttocks) one of the guys who built his pc about 2 months ago and spent 400 on the processor. I just dont know if it's worth the hastle to get a 4400+ (and I couldnt buy better than that). I'm thinking I should be content, but dont want to pass up a wicked deal either. What do you guys think?

BTW, I do love my 4200+ at the moment, but seeing as I dont have the other one too, i cant compare the two.

Even canada doesnt hit -30C ....craziness I tell yeh eh?

 

Nope. It gets colder. Been there, experienced the -49C. Whatever way you look at it, it is *still* cold.

Wetaher like that and you ened to start testing the rest of your components to see if they are

rated for that extreme (or buy mil-spec).

I felt -53 with windchill in SK 2 years ago. It was like that for a week,and one day i went to open a steel door with a steel handle and the knob just busted in half. It gets cold.

Thanks Cujo, again. I'll let her konw tomorrow, though I think she's gonna be strapped for cash till september. If it's still around by then...

looks like a good deal.

 

dark, there are definately greater number of oc'ed 7900gts and gtxs being rma'ed.

Thanks Cujo. I'll keep that in mind when throwing her suggestions.

I have a 7900 gtx already, but thanks for the heads up! My little sis will need a new card soon. Though, i was also told to stay away from the OC'd 7900's. Can anyone verify/refute that?

I have the G5 and love it. Absolutely no complaints.

Same. And I love the weights that come with it, so there's never any weight issues. Change on the fly I dont use a lot, so i program those buttons for other tasks. Though, i hate setpoint...

But I do love my G5. Felt better to me (size, contour, etc) than the G7 and I loved the texture.

dfi nf4 sli-dr

Opty 165 ( hit 2.7 so far..backed off to 2.3ish till cooler gets here)

2x1 ocz gold xtc pc4000

evga 7900gt ko

2x hitachi Dstar 80m's in raid-0 32k stripe

NEC 3550 dvd - black

Tt Armor - steel/black

OCZ GameXstream 700watt

MAG 19" crt

on-board sound atm

I've got the same tower as you - DANG its heavy eh? lol Glad I dont have to backpack it around town

but i love the black

i would be concerned with any power fluctuation caused my moving the cables around.

Yeah, thats what I thought. I fiddled around with it today, and nothing changed. Its very strange, but if nothing is happening, oh well. Thanks cujo.

K I got the thing up and running today finally, though i gave up setting it up in RAID0, cause i couldnt find the right driver. I knew the one i needed, but couldnt find it. So for now i'm just running a single drive with xp on it. I'll fiddle around with it more at the end of the summer when i can actually use it again. Loving the heatsink!!! Good on ya for the Big Typhoon! Tomorrow is drivers day and getting it all finished and purtty.

Cujo: any recommendations as to the RAM i should get?

I have to keep turning my PSU off and on to get it to finally... "start?" when i move my pc. is this normal? it was fine all last night, then i had to move it to my sis's for getting xp and drivers... it's a little frustrating. The power light on the mobo keeps blinking faintly in time with the ticking i hear from teh psu. last night it was fine once it got going...

*EDIT*

I found the problem When i toyed with the main line, i eventually got the power to go on. I think it was bent a little bit too much, cause when i straightened it it seemed to get rid of the problem. is this something to be quite concerned about? Should i send it back to enermax? (it's an enermax noisetaker 600w)

Ok, so the build went well today (first build, only took me 3 hours). Tomorrow is the drivers/xp/games... cant wait for it!!! though, i do remember someone telling me to be patient and get it all working before i try and game. dont worry, iwill

The catch is, i lost the net at my place, so i have to run to my sisters (which is where i am now) to dl the drivers etc and then run back to mine to install them. Should be fun though! And thanks for the luck wished, it was most definitely put to good use!

Edit: oh yeah, and the big typhoon - so far, it's big, very big, a little hard to work around, but keeps the cpu idle at 27C so far... :D:D

I just read today that I can get the RAID image from my motherboard resource cd (which i do not have yet, cause i'm still waiting for the mobo), so is this true? And are there sata drivers on this cd as well? I am also picking up a floppy today, and an anti-static wrist strap... its almost time! lol